new mum needs help

M

MoJoJoJo

Registered User
hi all, i have just given birth to my little girl on tuesday n trying to BF her since.

i didn't have any milk till saturday morning... n unfortunately already have 2 sore n bleeding nipples. my baby swallowed some milk n throw them up at one point too :*( i'm trying to pump out milk now (not much still) and also giving her formula, as she's very hungry.

my right nipple is nearly healed while the left side still has red flesh bits.

i'd like to find a lactation consultant to check on my position n latching. any recommendation? thx ever so much!

Jo - new mum v eager to BF...
 
Hi, Yvonne Heavyside on 98873235 helped me a lot. La Leche could also assist, their details are listed on their hk website.
 
i found the nurse/midwives at the maternal/child care centers very helpful. i went to the one in chai wan. they have a breastfeeding room and a nurse is usually in the room to assist or answer questions.
 
thx LeahH and miaka! :) i went to the chai wan maternal/child care centre for antenatal check-up before too - glad to hear that they are good with giving advise on BF. i'll probably call yvoone for some one-on-one help as well.

PS - i had to take my little girl back to the hospital today cos she's a bit too 'yellow' :( hope i'll be able to BF her when she's back....
 
mojojojo, i was in exactly the same situation as you when my baby was born in july this year. she had jaundice, got fed formula at the neonatal clinic but i went to see her and bf her every 2-3 hrs during the day to keep the amount of formula fed to her to a minimum. also pumped at home to provide night feeds. i also couldn't pump much at the beginning (maybe 50ml tops) and my nipples were sore and bleeding for 2 months, plus i had a shooting pain every time i latched on :eek: i also went to the mchc for bf help, and they were very patient and helpful. they let you bf your baby in the bf room and wait till baby has finished. my problems subsided by themselves and as baby grew older. now breastfeeding/pumping is so much easier :bfeeding
 
wow great to hear a successful story! :) i'm going to the mchc tomrrow morning, hope they can help correct the latching position problem with me.

but yikes, sore and bleeding nipples for 2 months - well done for keeping at it! i hope i have the same courage & patience too. :P
 
yeah, i'm really happy about it, too :yeah2 was really eager like you coz this IS the most natural way to feed baby, right? do also go through the older threads here where you can find info from LLL (sarah). i found them soo useful to boost my confidence and to get to know my body. all the best!
 
Dear Mojojojo,

Please get some help with positioning and latching your baby.

Generally the points to remember are:

  • Sit comfortably with your back straight and your lap flat.
  • You may use a pillow to support your arms but you need to be holding the baby.
  • Turn your baby?s body towards your tummy.
  • Tuck your baby?s bottom under your elbow.
  • Hold your baby at the top of the back, behind the neck and between the shoulders.
  • Your baby?s head should be tilted so that he is coming to your breast chin first.
  • Start with your baby?s nose opposite your nipple
  • Allow your baby?s head to tilt back and move your baby?s mouth gentle across the underside of your breast until your baby?s mouth opens really wide.
  • Bring your baby towards your breast quickly
  • Baby?s bottom lip and chin should touch your breast first.
  • Your Baby?s chin is in close contact with your breast.
  • Your baby is able to breathe easily.
  • You can feel your baby has a big mouthful of breast.
It doesn't matter what position you are feeding in and the points are valid for all positions.

The characteristics of a good latch are:
  • Baby?s chin touches the breast.
  • Baby?s nose does not.
  • Baby covers more of the areola with lower lip than with upper lip.
  • More of the areola shows above
  • Baby slightly tilted upwards.

If you would like me to send you some photographs to go with these ideas please e-mail at [email protected]

On Dr Jack Newman's web site there are a number of videos showing what a baby nursing looks like. I recommend that you watch them. http://www.breastfeedingonline.com/newman.shtml
There are some videos under Latching about half way down the page. These show how to achieve the asymmetrical latch, which is the most efficient way to breastfeed.
(but remember not to try to pull the baby's chin down! He does this is the video but I think it is more helpful to take the baby off and relatch.)

Dr Newman is quoted as saying, "The key to successful breastfeeding is proper latch-on!"

Generally sore nipples will heal as soon as the positioning and latch are improved. If you find that the sore nipples are not improving but you are happy with the positioning and latch it tends to mean that you have an infection on your nipples which is stopping the healing. In this case it is best to visit a doctor to get medicine for the infection. It would be very difficult to guess the infection without seeing it. The most common types of infection are yeast, fungal and bacterial.

Best wishes,
SARAH
 
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